Apparatus for packing and sealing shipping cases



Sept. 15, 1953 w. D. KIMBALL APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING SHIPPING CASES 3 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed April l2, 1941 Sept 15, 1953 w. D. KIMBALL 2,651,898

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING SHIPPING CASES Original Filed April l2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H15 ATTORNEYS Sept. 15, 1953 w. D. KIMBALL, 2,651,898

\ yAPPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING SHIPPING CASES Original Filed ":April l2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WALLACE D4 KIMBALL BY Ml H/ S ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. I5, 1953 genees APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING SHIPPING CASES Wallace D. Kimball, Middle Haddam, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Emhart Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Dela- Waffe Original application April 12, 1941, Serial No.

388,284, now Patent No. 2,430,878, dated November 18, 1947.

Divided and this application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 785,892

s claims. l

This invention relates to method and apparatus for packing articles such as cans, bottles and the like, in cases for transportation, and the general object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for case packing and seal- The cases are made of breboard, corrugated board or other brous material of suitable strength, when properly formed and sealed, to protect their contents, and the users of case packing machines-manufacturers of food products, beverages, etc.obtain the cases in the form of collapsed blanks. Such blanks have body portions with flap extensions at each end which are foldable to form the top and bottom of the case.

The articles to be packed in the cases sometimes come to the packing machine from a filling machine and sometimes from a labeling machine. In either event they are delivered to the case packing apparatus at a high rate, that is, a large number of articles per minute, by a suitable conveyor, or conveyors.

One of the especial objects of the present invention is to devise a sequence of operational steps in manipulating the case blank which result in a remarkably high rate of operation, and which are adapted to be carried out mechanically to provide an apparatus which is susceptible of such high speed operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for forming and packing a case which is adapted for use in connection with cases containing comparatively heavy articles, such as cans lled with food or beverage products.

in accordance with the present invention, certain of the flap extensions, or flapsj more particularly, the inner, or end, bottom flaps, immediately after the squaring out or squaring up of the case blank, are folded inwardly to their final position, and it is unnecessary to again change their position. Substantially at the same time the remaining iiaps, for example, the outer or side iiaps, at both bottom and top, are folded outwardly at substantially right angles to the blank and are not moved again until after packing the case. The case is rested on a smooth supporting surface along which it is arranged to slide, and the charge of articles is inserted through the open top, the inner top naps projecting upwardly and the outer top flaps being folded outwardly as just described. Adhesive is next applied to certain cf the flaps, for example, the outer flaps, which are already in the most desirable position to receive the adhesive, namely extending outwardly at right angles to the case. Thereafter these unfolded flaps, both at the bottom and the top of the case are folded to closed position.

The invention will now be described in connection with an apparatus for packing a charge of six filled cans, arranged in two rows of three cans each, in a fibreboard case. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of the apparatus taken on broken line I--I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation looking from the front of the apparatus and is drawn to an enlarged scale and with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side View of a squared up blank at position A in Fig. l and drawn to about the same scale as Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the position of the flaps of the case at position C, being a vertical section taken on line ll-i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a projectional view of the case at position D.l

Fig. 6 is a similar View at position F, and

Fig. '7 is a similar yview of the sealed case.

This application is a division of applicants copending application S. N. 388,284 led April 12, 1941, now Patent Number 2,430,878, granted November 18, 1947, entitled "Case Packer, and reference to that application may be made for the details of construction of the apparatus. Only sufficient `description of the mechanism of the apparatus will be given below to serve the purpose of the present application.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the sup-ply i of case blanks is in the form of a horizontal block of collapsed blanks standing on their ends and contained in a suitable magazine. The two lines of cans which are to form the two rows in the packed case are advanced by two parallel endless conveyors 2, 3 (Fig. 2), conveyor 3 being immediately behind conveyor 2. The cases Il (Fig. '7) packed and sealed are delivered at the left end (not shown) of the sealing mechanism, which is indicated by reference numeral 5.

The sealed case li is preferably provided with at least two openings 6 to facilitate the handling and opening of the case, and also, to allow circulation of cooling air over the surfaces of the cans therein in order that the case while still sealed may be placed in a refrigerator or ice box for cooling. These openings may be formed in Various ways, but as indicated they are formed by V-shaped notches 1 (Fig. 5) in the portions of the blank which form the top flap extensions whichy when closed, form the top end of the case.

The `case holders 8, twelve in number, are shown in top view in Fig. 1 assembled on the carrier indicated generally by numeral 9. Carrier 9 comprises an endless chain carried upon two large sprockets I0 and Il, and two spaced horizontal oblong supporting and guiding frames l2 and i3 in the form of iron castings. Each of the case holders B has a 'body member I4 secured to the endless chain, and, as the chain moves, these body members move in guideways formed by the opposite edges of flanges |5 and |5a which eX- tend around the peripheries o f frames IZand i3.

The carrier 9 and case holders 8 are advanced in the direction of the arrows in a step-bylstep movement by means of a ratchet drive mechanism (not shown) at the lower end vof vertical. shaft I6 for Sprocket which is the "driving sprocket. This rat-chet drive mechanism is located within housing |6a. ,y

At each operation of this ratchet drive, or step advancing mechanism, the case holder. `carrier 3 is y'advanced a distance equal to the distance between centers of adjacent case holders Bise that each time the carrier comes to rest in its step-bystep advancement, the case holders 8 are in the position indicated in the several figures of the drawings but the case holders have each been moved forward one position. Inasmuch as there are twelve case holders 8, there are twelve case holder positions. The rstiposition A where the successive case holders -8 receive squared out case blanks is at the right hand end of the apparatus. As the cases are moved successively through the subsequentjpositions up to the ninth position l'. on the I'earY side of the machine where the lled and closed cases are ejected and fed to the sealing mechanism 5, the desired operations are per- 4formed upon the cases. v

The `case blank squaring-out mechanism, ith, shown diagrammatically at the right hand end of Fig. l, places a Icase blank squared out to upright tubular form in a case holder, t, each time a case holder arrives at position A. By the time the case `arrives at position C, the packing position, it is ready to receive a charge of cans, and

if a `complete, charge of cans has been received in the packing mechanism, indicated generally Vbyv numeral '|3`c from conveyors 2 and '3,' the packltop and bottom ends, projecting vertically 'in line with the sides of the case. To maintain the sides of thecase square, each of the case holders is provided with a U-shaped form I1 having its open endv directed outwardly so as to' permit the case blank to be fed vin horizontally and the case to be ejected` horizontally. Forms I1 correspond approximately to thedimensions of the case, and, to retain the `case within vthis form, two pairs of fingers I 8 carried by arms |9 are provided. Each pair of arms I3 is fixed to 'a shaft '20 which is pivoted in the bodyl |4 of the case holder in order that fingersl I8 may be Spread apart or opened to receive the squared out case blank at the right hand end of theniachine and again at the ejecting position vto permit the filled case to be removed from the case holder.

Theftwo pairs 'of arms I9 are biased towards one another by means of a helical spring 2| and in order to 'open them for the purpose of receiving and ejecting 'the case, each of shafts 2|) is lprmzided.` at one end with a finger 22. The inner endsrof these 1fingers''overlap one another so as tobe engagedby a common actuating lever 23 at the receiving position at the right hand end 4 of the machine (shown in sfction in Fig. 1'), andt again at the ejecting position I in back of the machine by a second actuating member 2E.

The collapsed or flattened 'case blanks stand endwise in mass formation on a horizontal platform 3|. An individual blank, after being separated and opened up into tubular form by squaring up mechanism |517, is swept by means of an oscillating Larm 32 into the case holder 8 which is at the receiving position A, the case passing between a pair of vertical guides 33. Arm 32 and lever 23H" e oscillatd in timed relation to the step-byestep advance of carrier 9 so as to deliver a case blank to each case holder as it arrives at the vreceiving position A, and so that the arms |"Q will 'be opened to receive the squared out blank and then closed. This is accomplished by a control lrod 32| and cam 322 which are operatively connectedA by a follower lever 323, rod 32| serving to initiate the operation of squaring up'mech'- anism |519.

Immediately after the 4case is received intubu-l lar vertical squared out condition between thesides of form I1, the fingers I8 close over the outer corners of the case and the forward pair of arms |9 engage the front side of Vthe case and force the opposite or rear side against the rear' projecting wall oi form l1. In this way regardless of variation in the length of the cases the loeationc'f the cases in the'holders'is made uniform so that the cases will vregister accurately with the packing mechanism when they reach it. Platform 3| is placed at the proper elevation to cause the cases to be 'centered vertica1ly as shown in Fig. 3, with'respect to the case hold-4 ers S.

In order to support the, cases during the op erations of packing and folding the top flaps an;v elongated table 34 is arranged along the front side of the machine, this table being wider than' the cases so as to support the side or outer bot-l tom flaps in horizontally extended position.. During this time the side or outer top flaps areA to be held in a similar horizontally extended po sition and for this purposetwo pairs of closely spaced guide plates 35 and 36 are provided.

Both the bottom and top side flaps are foldedv or bent outwardly to this horizontal position during the movement of the case holder from thereceiving station A to position B immediately pre-` ceding the station C. The bottom *side are folded outwardly by'a U-shaped folding rod 3l, the legs of which engage the respective bottom flaps. The ends of the legs of 4this rod are secured to downwardly bent forward end por-4 tions 38 of table 355. The top side flaps are folded out by suitably curved folding rods 39 and'd. These are secured respectively to theupwardly' bent forward ends ofI the upper guides'35 and 35.

The end top flaps, yH and 42, Of the cases areleft projecting upwardly as may be seen in Fig. 2 until the cases pass the packing position C. The end bottom flaps, howeverl are folded to closed position to receive the contents of the case. This: folding is done as the casefpasses onto the end 0fV table '2&1 at position B. The forward end flap is bent backwardly and'folded closed by two down-- wardly bent projections 43 atthe end of table 34 while the rear end flap is folded by a rotary folder lic which rotates continuously and makes one revolution for each station'or step advance of the case carrier 9.

On the next advance of carrier 9, the case moves, from position'B topacking position C, no change in the position ofthe flaps taking place, and the case sliding along the surface of table 34. At position C the case is in vertical alinement with the funnel members 45 of packing mechanism A charge of cans is segregated by packing mechanism |353 from the supply of cans advancing on conveyors 2 and 3, and whenever a case reaches position C and the charge in the packing mechanism is complete, the packing mechanism is caused to descend until funnel members 45 are even with the top of the case, and place the six cans of the charge squarely in the case. The end bottom naps having previously been closed, the two cans at each end of the case rest upon these naps, the two center cans resting on table 34 in between these flaps.

On the next step advance of carrier 9 the case under consideration advances to position D and on the next, to position E, the beginning of the gluing. An oscillating arm 46 is actuated in timed relation to the movement of the carrier so as to tuck nap 42 under the upwardly curved front end of a flap holder rod 4l. Rod 41 holds the two end or inner top flaps closed during the progress of the cases through the gluing position E to position F and position G, during which time the side or outer top flaps, after having adhesive applied to them at station E, are folded from their outwardly extended horizontal position to closed position over the inner naps. Oscillating arm 46 is adjustably pivoted at 48 to a short horizontal shaft it carried in a bracket 50,

The next step advance `of carrier 9 moves the case from position D to position E where the case is just entering between upper and lower pairs or" glue rolls 55 and 56. When the case passes to the glue rolls the naps are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the'inner or end naps at both top and bottom being closed and the side or outer naps at both top and bottom being outwardly extended at right angles to the case or blank. The gluing mechanism applies adhesive to the flaps at the areas 5l indicated in Fig. 6, that is to say, only at rthe areas which are in contact with the inner iiaps after the outer flaps have been closed.

Position E has been referred to as the gluing position. More accurately it is the commencement of the gluing operation, this operation taking place during the next advance of the carrier or while the case moves from position E to position F.

During the following step movement of the carrier, taking the case from position F to position G, the side flaps at the bottom and the side naps at the top are folded to closed position against the inner flaps. While the cases pass between the glue rollers they are supported by a plate 53. During the closing of the side flaps they are supported rst on a horizontally curved tongue 5t, extending from plate 58, and, subsequently, on a horizontally curved plate 60 which has two tongue portions 6| and 62 of unequal length. Tongue 59 and plate 60 are in the same horizontal plane and tongue 59 overlaps but is slightly spaced from tongue 6| and spaced to a greater extent from tongue 62 for the purpose of permitting the side naps to pass between them at the end of their folding movement as they are coming into contact with the inner flaps.

The folding of these side'bottom naps is accomplished by means of two stationary curved rods 53 and 64. Rod 63 is secured to the end of tongue t! which is bent downwardly in the direction of this rod. Rod 64 is similarly secured on the end of tongue 62.

The tongue 59 is enough 6 narrower than the bottom of the' cases so that even though the cases are commencing to move on a curve at the position F (Fig. 1) the bottom side naps as shown in the dotted lines in this figure are permitted to hang downwardly under their own weight in a position to be engaged by the curved outer ends of the folder rods 63 and 64. 1

During the closing of the bottom flaps, somewhat similar closing operations are being performed upon the top flaps, by bent rods (not shown) similar to rods 63 and 64 but arranged to operate on the top side flaps.

During the next two successive step movements of carrier 9 a case advances from position G to position H and then to the ejecting position I. During this time lower plate 60 and a similar plate (not shown) spaced above it maintain the inner and outer flaps at both the bottom and top of the cases in sealing engagement with one another. At position I the cases are removed from the case holders 8 in a transverse lateral movement in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs.

l and 2 by ejecting mechanism (not shown).

Thereafter the cases are fed into the receiving or left-hand end of the sealing mechanism y5 which keeps the flaps pressed against one another until the adhesive has set.

The packing mechanism |30 comprises a vertically shiftable boxlike sheet metal structure, or charge former |30a having the sheet metal funnel members secured around its lower periphery. The upper portion of the right end of the structure |30a is open so that the cans on supply conveyors 2 and 3 may enter the structure. The structure holds six cans arranged in two rows as shown in Fig. 6, and when the cans enter the charge former |3a from the two conveyors they are supported by two narrow shutter rails |44, one of which is shown in Fig. 2.

In this part of Fig. 2 the front portion of the charge former box I 30a has been broken away as indicated so as to show the interior of the box and the rear shutter rail. This shutter rail is supported at the lower ends of a pair of arms |45 which are pivoted at their upper ends to the packing mechanism structure |30 so that they reciprocate with the other parts of this mechanism.l Shutter rail |44 enters the rear side of charge former structure |3011 through a slot |44ct and supports the rear row of cans.

It will be understood that the second shutter rail |44 is similarly mounted on the front side of charge former box |300L, and the two shutter rails are interconnected with one another so as to move outwardly together and simultaneously release the six cans within the charge former.

Packing mechanism 13|) is arranged to be reciprocated, from the elevation shown in Fig. 2 downward until the tips of funnel members 45 are at the top edge of the case at position C, by mechanism which is operated in timed relation to the operation of case holder carrier 9. Both the downward movement of packing mechanism |30 and the following advance of carrier 9 are initiated by a detector nger 233 which is pivoted on the lefthand end of charge former |30a. In fact there are two of these levers, one for each row of cans moving the charge former by conveyors 2 and 3. When the foremost can of each row has shifted its lever 233 at the left from the position shown in Fig. 2, this causes the descent of the charge forming mechanism |30, as mentioned. Simultaneously with this action a gate device |65 is moved into the path of the cans on conveyors 2, 3 so as to hold back these cans, the conveyors sliding beneath them.

The -gluing mechanism for applying adhesive to the outer side flapscomprises two glue rolls 55, for the upper iiaps, and two similar rolls 5S for the lower. Upper glue rolls 55 lare mounted on `a horizontal shaft 251 on `which they are spaced slightly more than the width of the case, as shown in Fig. `l. Lower glue rolls 5t* are similarly mounted on another shaft .262 which is be.- low and parallel with shaft 257.

Glue rolls .55 receive their adhesive from a receptacle 258 and glue rolls 56 from. a somewhat similar receptacle 26,3. lIt will be understood that Ythese glue rolls 55 and ES are rotated simultaneously in opposite directions. Their rotation is timed to the motion of the carrier` 9 in order toproperly time the rotation of two cams 276` and 214 which control the contact of the case flaps with the glue rolls so as to apply the adhesive in the twoV separated areas 5l as shown in Fig. `6.

This is accomplished by moving the 11ans into and out of contact iviththe glue rollers at the properA times. For this purpose two pairs of pivoted flap guide plates 210. and 278, for the lower and upper iaps respectively are provided. Guide vplates are pivoted on a rock shaft 269 and plates 278 on a similar shaft 298. Shaft 269 is actuated by an arm 275 which carries a follower roller cooperating with cam 274, whileshaft 2,58 is similarly actuated by cam 219 through an arm 271.

Referring now ,more Aparticularly to Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, the sequence of operations is here brought out in connection with the apparatus just described. A case blank is first squared out by the mechanism Ib and inserted in and grasped by the case holder' which is at position A (Fig. 1). Thereupon case holder carrier 9 advances the blank to position B and to ,position C. During such movement .thebottom inner case ilaps, Whichare at theendsof the case are folded inwardly to. their inal position as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Also during such movement the outer, or side, flaps, at both bottom and top of the case, are folded outwardly at right angles to the case blank as shown in Fig. 5Aand are not moved again until after the case has been packed and is ready for iinal closing.

.As these folding movements are completed the case is rested on a ,flat supporting surface, that is, table 34, along which the case slides under the movement of carrier 9, and which serves to maintain the bottom flaps in their respective positions. 1n order to maintain the outer top flaps extending outwardly at right angles to the case, the. pairs of guides 35 and Siare provided.

The folding of the outer top flaps as described leaves the top inner or .end flaps extending up wardly ready to receive the charge of cans, which is inserted through the open top of the case. This packing operation` takesplaceat position C, and the filled case thereafter continues its movement along table 34 past the gluingmechanism previously described by whichthe adhesive is applied to the still extended outer or side naps. Thereafter the continued movement of carrier. 9 carries the case through the folding -mechanism at the lefthand `end of the apparatus, `and the outer or side flaps at both top and bottom ,of`

the case are folded to closed position, which completes the closing of the case.

From the'apparatus point of view, it will be understood that changes may be madeA in the mechanism hereinabove described without `delagainst the back wall of the U-shaped form.

parting from the spirit of the invention, so long as the improved sequence of operations is main'- tained. The scope of the invention therefore is intended to be set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

-1, .In machine of the class described, an endless Vstepbyfstep.,operated conveyor for advancing squaredfout case blanks having flaps extending in the planes of the side and end walls upwardly from the 4top and downwardly from the bottom thereof, said endless conveyor having equally Spacerlcase' holders each comprising pairs of arms spring biased towards one another to grasp acaso blank, mechanism for squaring out and'inserting case 'blanks successively into said respective case holders, means timed with said mechanism for automatically opening and clos ing said .arms to receive and `hold such blank, saidendless-conveyor having associated there-- with devices for folding the inner bottom case fia-ps Vfrom the planes of said end walls to closed position and the outer bottom iiaps from the planes of said side lwalls outwardly to horizontal position at right angles to the case blank, mechanism ,for thereafter .packing articles therein, mechanically. operatedgluing means for apply ing adhesive to the Aouter bottom and top flaps. andmeans for `closing and sealing the bottom and t0n flaps.

- 2 Inamachine of theclassv described, an endless step-by-step operated conveyor for advancing squared-out case blanks having ilaps extend ing in the planes of the side and end walls ,upwardly from thetop and downwardly from ycasing .blank and hold Ait within `said form, mechanism .Y for -squaring-out and inserting case blanks successively into said respective case holders,v means timedrwith said mechanism for automatieallyopeningand closing said fingers to receive-and hold Such blank, said endless con- -veyor having 4z tssociated therewith devices for yfoldingthe inner vbottom case flaps from the .planes-of said end walls to closed position and the-outer bottom flaps from the planes of said .side walls ,outwardly to horizontal position at right angles to the case blank, mechanism for thereafter,packing articles therein, mechanicalf` ly operated, gluing means for applying adhesive -to vthe outer bottom and top flans, and means for closing and sealing the bottom and top ilaps.

3. Afmachine of the class described as claimed lin claim2, wherein the spring biased arms are provided attheir outer ends with fingers con vstructed and arranged to engage the front face of the squared-outcase blank and hold the blank l WALLACE D. IQMBALL.

.References lCited inthe le of this patent UNrriizDv STATES PATENTS l Number A Name Date 807,140 l.Sunderman Dec. 12, 1905 1,183,347 Crouch et al May 16, 19l6 1,471,487 Johnson Oct. 23, 1923 1,592,794 Webster July 13, 1926 2,124,962 `Ferguson et al. July 26, 1930 .2,136,901 n Ferguson Nov. 15, 1938 2,166,389 vliergstein July 18, 1939 :2,335,855 Milligan-et al Dec. 7, 1943 

